Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia!

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Charley Descoteaux

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia! Almost 200 people in the LGBTQ writing community have banded together to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia and raise awareness, acceptance, and love around the world.

Everyone is running their own giveaways in this hop, and mine is a $25 donation to The Trevor Project in the winner’s name, along with a $10 All Romance eBooks gift card. I considered offering some Trevor Gear, but don’t want to exclude my international friends. Check out the end of the post for ways to enter.

I really didn’t know what to post about for such an important event. Usually at big events I’m the quiet one in the corner, observing. But that’s not exactly what I signed up for. This is the sixth post I’ve written for this hop. The others weren’t bad, but they were all too something: too personal, too political, too sad or too angry.

So instead of any of that, I’m going to shine the light on one of the most important groups I know of: The Trevor Project. I wish they were local so I could volunteer, but I’ll have to settle for sharing their Lifeline number and their message, and sending money.

Many kids, regardless of orientation, experience a time when things seem too hard, too big, too impossible to overcome. Even though it’s wonderful to be unique, it’s not always easy to be different. It can feel like nobody cares, or like nobody has ever gone through anything so awful. I’ve been there myself. When you’re in crisis, it’s hard to feel anything but horrible and hopeless.

But you’re not alone. Someone cares. The volunteers at The Trevor Project are always there to listen. They care. The people who give money to keep the phone lines open care. The team keeping the web site up and running, they care. Even if they don’t know you, they care what happens to you.

Parents and friends of LGBTQ youth—let the young people in your life know you care. Even if they seem to be handling things okay, everyone needs help sometimes. The strongest kids can break the hardest and with the least warning. Texts, phone calls, hugs—don’t let someone you care about forget you’re there.

Thanks, everyone, for getting this far with me, and for participating in the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia. To enter my giveaway for a $25 donation in your name to The Trevor Project and a $10 All Romance eBooks gift card, leave a comment with your e-mail address and a suicide prevention hotline number or similar resource serving LGBTQ youth or seniors in your local area (worldwide). I want to compile a list and make it available 24/7 on my Resources page. Because even though the greatest sign of strength is asking for help, you have to know who to ask.

For more entries, follow my blog, Like my FB Author Page, catch up with me on Twitter, or share my Resources page–anything goes!

Let me know what you did in your comment, and then hop on!

I’ll e-mail my winner within 48 hours of the conclusion of the hop on May 27th. Break a leg!

43 thoughts on “Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia!”

shehannemoore on May 17, 2013 at 2:18 am said:

Charley D, this is a great post but the original one that arrived in my inbox from you was amazing. You are some lady x

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 7:21 am said:
  
  Thanks Shey! I guess if I was going to chicken out I should’ve done it sooner. 🙂
  
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  - shehannemoore on May 17, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:
    
    listen doll…never chicken out. People love you for what you are or they can …..go away….quite frankly . Hope you liked the polite there for your blog. But you know Charley you are fabulous whatever you say. And that is it really Sheyxx
    
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jessielansdel on May 17, 2013 at 3:53 am said:

Brilliant, sensitive and caring post. There are so many wonderful organisations out there. I wish I could help all of them in some way. Thank you. 🌈

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 7:22 am said:
  
  Thanks — I feel the same way. 🙂
  
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Erica Pike on May 17, 2013 at 5:32 am said:

Great message, Charley 🙂

We only have one LGBTQ center/organization in Iceland, but it’s done a kick-ass job over the 35 years they’ve been operating. 35 years ago, LGBT people in Iceland had to flee the country because of death threats; now people speaking against LGBTQ people run the risk of getting bashed (verbally).

The number to the LGBTQ center (Samtokin 78) in Iceland is 552 7878. However, we also have a national hotline to all people who need someone to listen to (not LGBTQ exclusive): 1717 (it’s like an emergency number and they’ll help no matter what – the land code to Iceland is +354).

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 7:26 am said:
  
  Thanks, Erica! I didn’t expect my first international # to be from Iceland, that’s so cool! I’ll add them both.
  
  And thanks for the good news–it’s nice to hear!
  
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DarienMoya on May 17, 2013 at 8:52 am said:

Making people aware of all the groups that offer help and support is a wonderful thing. In fact I am going to add them to my blog, and look for some here in Toronto and helping doing whatever I can. Thats my goal so for next year I will have something spectacular to share.

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 7:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks for visiting, Darien! Your blog is already pretty darned spectacular! 🙂
  
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Beth on May 17, 2013 at 6:43 pm said:

I think that this was a great post. I know that this can be a tough topic to write on but you did a great job. Thank you for doing the hop

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 7:58 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Beth. I’m glad you stopped by. Have fun hopping! 🙂
  
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JadeCrystal on May 17, 2013 at 11:15 pm said:

Great post, Charley! I focused on The Trevor Project for my post as well, and I swear I didn’t read yours first, lol.

There isn’t a hotline for my immediate area that I can find, but I did find a resource page for my state with national and state hotlines: http://www.suicidehotlines.com/southcarolina.html They list The Trevor Project along with other resources for youth as well as seniors and military vets. Seems like a good resource.

bloodandfires (at) yahoo (dot) com

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- C. Descoteaux on May 17, 2013 at 11:47 pm said:
  
  Great minds think alike! 🙂 I like your post too — can’t say enough good things about TTP. They even get high scores with Charity Navigator (62.76 out of 70).
  
  Thanks for the addition to my list! I should amend my page to include vets too, thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
  
  Hope you have fun on the hop!
  
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suze294 on May 18, 2013 at 1:35 pm said:

One I’ve come across on other participants blogs is The Albert Kennedy Trust, akt.org.uk, With centres in London 020 7831 6562; Manchester 0161 228 3308; Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 281 0099

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- C. Descoteaux on May 18, 2013 at 9:58 pm said:
  
  Thanks Suze! I’ve added your numbers to the list.
  
  I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop! 🙂
  
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Löni on May 18, 2013 at 3:42 pm said:

I doubt I would ever have called them – knowing perfectly well that come the beginning of the month it was time for the parents to separate work calls from private calls – ohh yeah there was grilling if “unknown” numbers turned upon the bill … ahh well yes I grew up before the age of cell phones.
Sure would have been nice to have had… well I’m glad they are there and helping.

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- C. Descoteaux on May 18, 2013 at 10:04 pm said:
  
  Hi Loni, thanks for your comment. The internet is good for that–no hassles over phone bills, and it’s much easier to find help when you need it. *hug*
  
  Have a wonderful weekend!
  Charley
  
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Urbanista on May 19, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:

Right down the street, The LGBT Communtiy Center of Metro St. Louis offers help, support, and resources. The number is (314) 472-5428. It’s on that cool stretch with all the rainbow flags.

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- C. Descoteaux on May 20, 2013 at 10:37 am said:
  
  Thanks for helping my list of Resource numbers grow! 🙂
  
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Nancy S on May 20, 2013 at 1:39 pm said:

Sorry I don’t have a number for you but sending you a pat on the back and an “atta girl” for your efforts.

ocanana@gmail.com

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- C. Descoteaux on May 21, 2013 at 11:46 am said:
  
  Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
  
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H.B. on May 20, 2013 at 9:31 pm said:

Found this resource for the GLBT National Help Center serving people of all ages. They provide peer counseling, information and local resources : http://www.glnh.org/index2.html . In my state I found this link giving several numbers for suicide hotlines in the area: http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/pennsylvania-suicide-hotlines.html

humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

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- C. Descoteaux on May 21, 2013 at 1:48 pm said:
  
  I didn’t realize WP would see links & think the reply had to be spam. Sorry it took me so long to pull yours off moderation!
  
  Thanks for the links! I’ll add them to the list. 🙂
  
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Peggy on May 21, 2013 at 8:21 am said:

Great post. In Kentucky there is not a LGBT crisis line, but there is Safe Place for all teens, providing emergency shelter, food, clothes, etc. Their 24 hour crisis and advice line is 502-635-5233.

peggy1984 (at) live (dot) com

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- C. Descoteaux on May 21, 2013 at 11:46 am said:
  
  Thanks, Peggy, this sounds like a great organization! 😀
  
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Sophie Bonaste on May 21, 2013 at 4:11 pm said:

I live in Pennsylvania and here we have the PA Diversity Network. Their number is 610-432-5449. Thank you for doing the hop!

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JadeCrystal on May 22, 2013 at 8:23 am said:

Hi Charley, I was looking around for info to do another HAHAT post and I found a list of 20 LGBT Organizations You Need to Know: http://www.diversitybestpractices.com/news-articles/20-lgbt-organizations-you-need-know Just thought I’d share. 🙂

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- C. Descoteaux on May 23, 2013 at 5:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Jade!
  
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Lena Grey on May 22, 2013 at 1:59 pm said:

DUMFRIES

ACTS Helpline
24 Hour Helpline
(703) 368-4141
Teenline
(703) 368-8069
Spanish 6pm – 10pm M-F
(703) 368-6544

This is the nearest help center we have where I live. Thanks for all you have done.

lena.grey.iam@gmail.com

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- C. Descoteaux on May 23, 2013 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Lena! Very cool of them to have hours when someone is there who speaks Spanish.
  
  Hope you enjoy the long weekend! 🙂
  
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chickie434 on May 27, 2013 at 10:08 am said:

The list is a great idea Charlie, I’m glad you’re putting it together. As for me, I recently just found a great organization AllOut (https://www.allout.org/en). It’s a worldwide organization, and it’s pretty awesome. Thanks for participating!

tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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- chickie434 on May 27, 2013 at 10:09 am said:
  
  Oh and I like you on FB as Emily Wells and twitter as chickie434
  
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  - C. Descoteaux on May 27, 2013 at 7:04 pm said:
    
    Thanks for the link, chickie! 🙂
    
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shadowluvs2read on May 27, 2013 at 7:17 pm said:

Hi! Thanks for being apart of this fantastic hop! Its amazing what your all doing! I live in the Watervliet, Michigan. Heres the hotline: 24 Hour Crisis Hotline- 1-800-336-0341. Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful night!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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- shadowluvs2read on May 27, 2013 at 8:19 pm said:
  
  opps. i gave you the wrong number. heres a link with several hotlines in michigan: http://www.suicidehotlines.com/michigan.html
  
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Penumbra on May 27, 2013 at 7:18 pm said:

Here’s one that I recently heard about:

Bill DeFrank LGBT Community Center – http://www.defrankcenter.org

Thanks for participating in this great hop!

penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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- Penumbra on May 27, 2013 at 7:21 pm said:
  
  That’s ‘Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center’ not ‘Bill’. Their phone number is: 1-408-293-3040
  
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K-lee Klein on May 17, 2014 at 10:34 am said:

Hi Charley. Great post. Thanks so much for joining the HAHAT this year. Your pics aren’t showing up for me but I’m not sure if that’s just my computer or not. Have a great day. Hugs.

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- Charley Descoteaux on May 17, 2014 at 5:16 pm said:
  
  Eek! I accidentally linked to last year’s HAHAT post! Sorry about that–it’s fixed now so anyone jumping from my snippet post will get to the right place.
  
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Lee Todd on May 17, 2014 at 11:13 am said:

Lifeline 13 11 14 is the Suicide Prevention organisation in Australia

leetee2007@hotmail.com

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stella on May 18, 2014 at 12:35 pm said:

Hi Charley!!! great post very useful
I live in Italy, I found this one 800.713.713

cvale1 AT virgilio DOT com

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